Chelsea injury news: Lavia back, James still out | OneFootball

Enzo Maresca has provided an update on the fitness of his Chelsea squad and has confirmed Romeo Lavia is fit to return this weekend.

Lavia has not featured since the Europa Conference League win over Servette in August as a result of a hamstring issue.

Chelsea have taken a cautious approach with the 20-year-old’s latest setback after Lavia played just 32 league minutes during a nightmare debut season at Stamford Bridge in 2023/24.

Lavia impressed on the Premier League’s opening weekend against former club Manchester City and Maresca has confirmed the Belgian is available to face Brighton this weekend.

However, Maresca revealed that Reece James is yet to return from a hamstring problem of his own as the Chelsea captain awaits his first appearance of the campaign.

“Romeo Lavia is available for tomorrow, the only one is Reece [James]. Lavia we will see [if he can play the full 90 minutes],” Maresca said at his pre-match press conference.

“We have one more session now and then we will decide. The most important thing is that finally he is back.”

Maresca pleased with Chelsea start

Chelsea are targeting a fourth consecutive win in all competitions against Brighton but Maresca has dismissed suggestions that he has found the Premier League ‘easy’.

The Italian is in his first campaign in England’s top flight after arriving from Leicester in the summer.

“Not easy, as we said, we are two to three weeks where there is no noise around the team, this is important but I think it is not easy.

“I did expect it, in terms of hard work but in the same time nice and exciting, so I am happy.”

Read – Chelsea boss Maresca discusses difficult decision

See more – Eight talking points ahead of the Premier League weekend

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